Xhosa cattle killing movement in southern africa ap world history

AMSCO AP World History 6.3, 6.5


6.3: Indigenous Responses to Imperialism


Native Complaints Against Imperialism


During the second wave of imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many indigenous peoples had grievances against the imperial powers who sought to expand their control over their land and resources.



Land Loss:
Many indigenous peoples were displaced from their traditional lands as imperial powers claimed them for their own use or to make way for settlers.


Exploitation of Resources:
Imperial powers often exploited the natural resources on indigenous lands without regard for the welfare of the native peoples or the environment.


Cultural and Religious Suppression:
Imperial powers often sought to assimilate indigenous peoples into their own culture and religion, which led to the suppression of traditional customs and beliefs.


Economic Exploitation:
Indigenous peoples were often forced to work on European-owned plantations, mines and other industrial projects at low wages or no wages at all.


Political Oppression:
Imperial powers often denied indigenous peoples the right to self-rule and imposed their own systems of government on them, often

The Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement for AP World History


The Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement is an illustrative example for the Indigenous Responses to State Expansion topic in Unit 6 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test.





The Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement, also known as the Xhosa Cattle-Killing Delusion, was a devastating social and spiritual upheaval that occurred among the Xhosa people of southern Africa in the mid-19th century. Rooted in prophetic visions, the movement led to widespread famine, social dislocation, and loss of life, leaving an indelible mark on Xhosa society and culture.

The Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement originated with the prophecies of a Xhosa teenage girl named Nongqawuse and her uncle Mhlakaza in 1856. According to their visions, the Xhosa ancestors would return, driving away the British colonizers and restoring the Xhosa to their former glory. To hasten the fulfillment of these prophecies, the Xhosa were instructed to slaughter their cattle and destroy their crops, as these actions were believed to cleanse the land and bring about a new era of prosperity.

The prophecies of Nongqawuse and Mhlakaza sprea

The Xhosa Cattle Killing






One morning in 1856, a fifteen year old Xhosa girl named Nongqawuse went with another girl to scare birds from her uncle's crops in the fields by the sea at the Gxarha river mouth in the present day Wild Coast area of South Africa.

Written by Gemma Pitcher

Mass Resistance, Not Mass Suicide
When she returned she said that she had seen a man, who had told her that 'The whole community would rise from the dead; that all cattle now living must be slaughtered'. The girls returned home and told their families what had happened
but they were not believed
. Later, however, when Nongqawuse described one of the men, her uncle Mhalakaza, himself a diviner, recognised the description as that of his dead brother, and became convinced she was telling the truth.As a result, between April 1856 and June 1857, the various sections of the Xhosa people of the Eastern Cape and the Transkei slaughtered almost all their enormous stocks of cattle and
deliberately killed their crops
. This apocalyptic event, rather than being some kind of 'mass suicide's described by early colonial historians, was actually the earliest example of a mass 'passive resistance' movement in


Introduction

Between 1750 and 1900, imperialism triggered diverse responses from indigenous peoples across the globe. In some cases, colonized groups resisted with force. Others pursued diplomacy, formed new states, or turned to religion as a basis for protest. While some indigenous societies aligned with imperial powers for survival, most experienced land loss, exploitation, and cultural suppression. These responses were shaped by unique regional contexts but often shared common threads of nationalism, spiritual revival, and a desire for autonomy.


Causes of Indigenous Discontent

As imperial powers expanded control, indigenous peoples developed numerous grievances, including the following:







Land Dispossession

Colonizers seized land for settlements or plantations, displacing natives.



Resource Exploitation

Natural resources were extracted for imperial gain, often without consent.



Cultural Suppression

Indigenous languages, religions, and customs were outlawed or stigmatized.



Labor Exploitation

Locals were forced into low-wage or unpaid labor on colonial projects.



Political Exclusion

Indigenous groups were denied participation in governance or legal rights